Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-10-16

comes in SO tired, and she is thin as 6
shadow, despite our long summer in the
country, where took her to rest and re
cruit."
/ saw young lsdY pause ct the foot Of
the New York Elevated Railroad station
the other day, and look up the long flight
of stairs with sigh.
"oh, If were only dressed like man, u
she cried, snow l would ekip up those
stairs, but ny shoes are tight, my elss-
tics are tight, ny waist is tight, and my
gloves and collar are tight, SO CAD only
crawl up!"
She was no exception to the rule, either
only in being frank about it.
I But that very day I heard gentleman
comment pleasantly on the trim, neat
| figure Of this young l&dy, and her modest,
| yet stylish mode of dress.
To be absolutely comfortably attired
for walking, climbing s'airs, and riding,
the waist cugnt not to have even the re-
| strictiop OF whalebone, there ought to
! be no awkward tournuTe 20 lean back
ag&inst, and the skirts should reach only
to the tops of the boots. Yet we would
sooner venture eloue int the jungleS of
Africa than TO walk down Broadway at
tired in this manner.
1t is easier TO suffer the martyrdom Of
| fashion.
We all desire TO be pleasing in the eyes
of the lords Of crea ion; We are all
wounded If we receive neglect or ridI-
cule from them, and we have all noticed
that whatever our fathers, husbands,
lovers or brothers may say theoretically
on the subject, that they invariably show
their admiration for handsomely
dressed woman, who combines good taste
with fashion
It is painful truth that the woman
who ignores fashion for comfort impsirs
her usefulness, and brings upon herself
annoyance.
If she travels she meets with rudeness
and ridicule.
II she goes shopping she meets with
inattenti and discourtesy.
II she goes on au erraDd Of charity she
is looked upon as crank or &n impostor.
a fashionable costume, on the other
hand, is an open letter of credit.
The conductor looks after you, the
| "s&lesladyn ia attentive, the banker OBJ
sequious, and the usher OF the church
finds the best pew for you. It is pitiful,
but it is true.
And so we prefer to bear physical suf
fering to mental and spiritual disturb
ance.
A great deal has been said Of late con
corning the decollette dress for ladies'.
Being myself q worshipper at the shrine
OF hesuuful woman, and an admirer OF
the nude in art, am perhaps untitled to
discuss this subject imparttally.
l have seen immOdest dressing which
shocked and disguised NE, but it seems
TO ms the rule shat American women
know where to draw the line.
could neve" understand why the IN
covering OF pretty arms and shoulders
was any more immodest than the uncov-
eriDg of a pretty face. In ASIA custom
considers he latter improper.
Men exhibit sad unreasonableress in
this matter Slso A pretty young
vile broke into tears one evening and CON
fded her trouble TO me. Sac had just
returned from reception, wearing a
close, high-necked dress. "Jonn has
talked Of nothing Gil the waY home," she
said, "but the beauty and elegance OF
Mrs. s.. He thinks her q d odel of
good taste in dress. She was atured in q
loW-necked sleeveless gown Yet he
would not let me wear my Wrecked bed
ice wi b the lace sleeves; he said IL WIS
immodest"
If John held his wife's neck too sacred
&c be ggZed upon bV other eyes Gas his
defenders would srgue), 1t was at least
very bad TASTE for HIM to expatiate on
the charms of another woman's shout
ders. Had he been man OF tact he
would nave assured his wife that she was
q thOusa I'd times more attractive in her
closely -buttoned dress than Mcs. S.
in h-rs dec0llete gown. But he proved
by word and act that he really admired
the d. collete gown the more.
DeColletes is French word from de-
cOlleter, "to uncover the neck" 1t does
not signify any indecent display of the
person, although it is frequently imprOp-
erly used in that sense by the critics. So
long as it is the neck which is uncovered,
and The occasion is suitable, 1 an SC Z
loss to find the indellcacy of this very
pretty custom
Far more shocking to my sense of the
is the sight OF much jewelry
worn in daylight and in street cars. Pre-
cious gems seem TO me to belong to the
night almost as exclusively as the stars
of heaven But the womsn herself is the
most precious gem Of them sll, snd IN
less she is truthful, uuselfish, chsste and
intelligent no amount OF beautiful apparel
or fashionable ATTIRE can win her lasting
admiration.
AS common glass set In the rarest gold
Would tuse careful cout oisseur TO frown,
Good taste must ehrink, offended to behold,
A coarse-grained woman in a fine spun
gown.
Ter gems should be Ike flashes from her mind,
Her dress the sweet expression of her heart.
Unless this perfect harmony we find,
There is no worth nor beauty in The art.
ELLA WHEELER WILCOX.